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Speech by Prince Rahim Aga Khan V (sent as video message) on the occasion of the 2025 Global Pluralism Awards ceremony held in Ottawa, Canada at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat

November 25, 2025

Bismillah-ir-Raheman-nir-Rahim

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

On behalf of the Centre’s Board of Directors it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 Global Pluralism Award Ceremony – Le Centre mondial pour le Pluralisme a ete cree pour aider les sociétés du monde entier a relever le defi de bien vivre ensemble, en mettant les differences au service du progres, de la prosperite et de la paix.

Championing pluralism in our societies is not only the goal – it is the solution. Pluralism is the road map to bridging the schism between people and even institutions.

Les Prix mondial du pluralisme représentait, pour feu mon père une façon d’incarner ce type de leadership et de démontrer concrètement les bienfaits du respect de la diversité et de la reconnaissance de toute sa valeur.

En ces temps difficiles, les Prix nous permet de dépasser les divisions et inspires par les travails des lauréats de contribuer a un changement constructif au sein de nos propre sociétés.

Often pluralism feels like a hard task, an almost unattainable ideal. But the beauty of the Global Pluralism Awards is that it shows us how ordinary people are making an impact on their societies every day in the face of huge challenges. These organisations, through ordinary actions, are making an enormous impact on their communities, and engaging partners — often unlikely ones — to work together to solve the biggest issues of our time. Together they are building movements that change global systems and norms. This is not always easy work but its value can outlast us.

Once we take time to listen to another who we see as different from ourselves and we start to understand their story, we may find we have more in common than we thought, and our conception of “we” begins to expand.

Ce soir, nous rendons hommage a ces dix lauréats pour tout ce qu’ils accomplissement au quotidien pour donner vie au pouvoir transformateur du pluralisme. Les champs d’action, les régions et les démarches diffèrent mais le principe qui guide leur engagement est le même.

Il y a de la place par que nous puissions, tous et toutes, bien vivres ensemble.

This group of 10 joins a larger group of the 40 laureats who preceded them since the inception of the Award and the multitude of people who are pushing back against division and marginalisation.

We are each of us part of our global community and as members of this community we too are responsible for shaping it through our own behaviour towards others.

Je tiens a exprimer ma profonde gratitude aux éminents membres du jury, dont les parcours professionnels et personnels sont aussi riches que varies.

I congratulate the jury chair, Dr. Marwan Muasher, as well as its other members – Mme Yasnaya Aguilar Gil, Dr. Comfort Ero, Ms. Reeta Roy, Mr. Gam Shimray, Dr. Stephen Toope and Mr. Antonio Zapulla for their dedication and their inspired choices of Awardees.

As we congratulate and learn more about these exceptional laureates tonight, I invite you to think about what meaningful action you can implement in your own life. Each of our choices matters in the face of our global challenges

Merci aux lauréates au Centre du Mondial Pluralisme et a chacune et chacun d’entre vous ici ce soir, pour votre engagement envers le pluralisme.